BLUE SEX

6

One thing led to another and she found herself reply the anonymous client.

She tried to track the person Down, hoping for the life of her that it wasn't sam trying to get her attention.

They exchanged phone calls that night, Maria trying to understand just what he wanted.

"How about we meet?" She asked, placing the cold reciever on her left ear with her hand holding pen over paper. She was leaning on her writing desk "sometime next week?"

"I'm a very busy man, Miss Maria."

The voice was calm, not stressed. It was that of a man who spent all day relaxing not working. But there was an edge of roughness attached, that firm masculinity that we all know too well. It sounded commanding, like a boss.

"Oh," she signed "but I like to meet my clients in person first...is it okay if we video call?"

"No. I don't have time for that."

Another sigh, "so I do I know what you Want?"

"You have ears, listen."

**

Alicia swirred the coffee, "are you sure about this?"

"Yes."

"Maria, be smart. What if he is a kidnapper? What if he works for the Mafia and wants to lure you to them? What if he is a pimp looking for a new girl? What if he is a drug baron ready to stuff cocaine in your vagina? What if..."

"....he is real and actually wants me to paint him?"

"Naked."

"Naked."

A pause, "I worry maria. There's a million possibilities and one hundred more that this guy wants to kill you."

"Because?"

"oh come on!" Alicia said hitting the table, coffee spilling on cold cloth. A few people at the coffee shop turned to look at them, Alicia looked away "this is America The Great, not every one has to have a reason to kill."

A scoff, "forget it Sis, I'm going."

"To die."

"What?"

"You are going to die!"

Maria school her head, "nope, as a matter of fact, I'm going to book my flight ticket to new York city right now." She's begun to fish for her phone.

"What about all the scenarios I gave?" Alicia asked, wide eyed.

"Why would anyone want to kidnap me? I can't even afford a decent apartment, who'll pay the Ransome?"

An unimpressed look, "you can afford a decent apartment."

"Ugh, you get the point!"

"No I don't. But that eliminates just one out of a thousand..."

"...calm down, sis. The mafia can't adopt me, I'm too weak for them to use. A pimp wouldn't look my way twice, I've got the flattest arse in all of north america."

"That I agree with!" Alicia said laughing.

"Sis, come on!  And my vagina for cocaine? That's just..."

"Would you two please mind your language?" Came an old woman's voice from across the room " we can hear you here too."

Maria turned to see the woman there, on a table filled with grandchildren. "Grandma, what's a vagina?" A two year old boy asked with a mouth stuffed with biscuits.

The woman shot them dirty looks and turned her  back.

There was silence.

"Come on Maria, let's get out of here."

***

The airport was filled with the Friday crowd, Maria walked in dragging her art box and small traveling bag behind her.

"For the last time Sis, I'm not on a suicide mission!'

"I know, I know" came Alicia "it's just...be careful."

"I will."

"I have a bad feeling about this."

"You have a bad feeling about everything, sheesh!"

"Maria..."

Her flight number was being announced "good to go, sis."

"Did you take the pepper spray?"

"Yes..."

"The pocket knife?"

"sweet Jesus, yes!"

"I would have borrowed you my boyfriend's gun but...just stay safe."

"Thank God you're not mum. I'd have killed myself."

"I'm ignoring that, Maria. Call me if anything goes wrong, okay? And immediately you get to new york, video call me so I can make sure."

"Yes. And  don't tell mum."

"I won't"

"Okay then, bye Sis."

Alicia pulled her into  a warm hug as though it was the last time they'd ever see each other again, "I love you, Maria."

"I love you even more Sis."